Rural Development Ministry Launches National Push for Women Entrepreneurs

16 Jan 2026 CW Team

DAY-NRLM aims to bring a transformational change in the income levels of rural women through diversified and sustainable livelihoods. Promotion of non-farm enterprises has emerged as a critical pathway in achieving this objective. Over the years, initiatives such as the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme have demonstrated successful enterprise models supported by trained community cadres, who play a key role in enterprise identification, start-up support, mentoring and handholding at the grassroots level.

The Ministry has committed to enabling at least thirty million ‘Lakhpati Didis’, defined as SHG women members earning Rs 1 lakh or more annually. Achieving this ambitious target requires a significant scale-up of trained community-level enterprise support systems, which the new national campaign seeks to address.

The primary objective of the National Campaign on Entrepreneurship is to train and build the capacity of 50,000 community resource persons (CRPs) in enterprise promotion, while also imparting entrepreneurship development programme (EDP) training to 50 lakh SHG members associated with DAY-NRLM.

The launch event saw participation from senior stakeholders, including Advisor, NITI Aayog (RD&PR); Chairman, NABARD; and representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IFMR LEAD (KREA University), EDII and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, along with State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) CEOs and their teams.

The campaign is expected to deepen enterprise development across rural India, foster local economic growth and unlock the entrepreneurial potential of SHG women. By strengthening community institutions and linking grassroots enterprises with formal financial systems, the initiative aims to pave the way for a resilient, inclusive and self-reliant non-farm rural economy.

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The Ministry of Rural Development has launched a National Campaign on Entrepreneurship to accelerate the promotion of non-farm rural enterprises and boost income generation among women self-help group (SHG) members under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The campaign was launched on January 12, 2026, by the Additional Secretary (Rural Development).DAY-NRLM aims to bring a transformational change in the income levels of rural women through diversified and sustainable livelihoods. Promotion of non-farm enterprises has emerged as a critical pathway in achieving this objective. Over the years, initiatives such as the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme have demonstrated successful enterprise models supported by trained community cadres, who play a key role in enterprise identification, start-up support, mentoring and handholding at the grassroots level.The Ministry has committed to enabling at least thirty million ‘Lakhpati Didis’, defined as SHG women members earning Rs 1 lakh or more annually. Achieving this ambitious target requires a significant scale-up of trained community-level enterprise support systems, which the new national campaign seeks to address.The primary objective of the National Campaign on Entrepreneurship is to train and build the capacity of 50,000 community resource persons (CRPs) in enterprise promotion, while also imparting entrepreneurship development programme (EDP) training to 50 lakh SHG members associated with DAY-NRLM.The launch event saw participation from senior stakeholders, including Advisor, NITI Aayog (RD&PR); Chairman, NABARD; and representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IFMR LEAD (KREA University), EDII and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, along with State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) CEOs and their teams.The campaign is expected to deepen enterprise development across rural India, foster local economic growth and unlock the entrepreneurial potential of SHG women. By strengthening community institutions and linking grassroots enterprises with formal financial systems, the initiative aims to pave the way for a resilient, inclusive and self-reliant non-farm rural economy.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..